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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rash · net · tube · spell · scale · lash · fine · chair

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. net — in sport
  3. tube — a container
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. net — for catching
  7. tube — the underground
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. spell — magic
  13. fine — all right
  14. rash — a series
  15. rash — hasty
  16. spell — a short time
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. spell — letters
  20. scale — size or range
  21. net — after costs
  22. fine — high quality
  23. scale — in music
  24. chair — a leader

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com